5th Generation

NR NEW RADIO
Network ARCHITECTURE
B y : Wa l e e d E l s a f o u r y

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 NSA (Non Standalone) SA (Standalone)

EPC EPC NG CORE

S1 S1 NG-C NG-U

LTE 5G NR
LTE 5G NR

Control plane Control plane

User plane User plane

• Focus on eMBB • eMBB/uRLLC/mMTC and network slicing

• LTE as anchor, reuse current EPC, 5G NR quick • New Core required
introduction • High requirement for 5G NR coverage
• Less requirement for 5G NR coverage

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 Load Balance

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 Standalone NR: Pure 5G network with no need for 4G.
Non-standalone NR: A deployment configuration where the gNB requires an LTE eNB as anchor for
control plane connectivity to EPC, or an eLTE eNB as anchor for control plane connectivity to NGC.
Non-standalone E-UTRA: A deployment configuration where the eLTE eNB requires a gNB as
anchor for control plane connectivity to NGC.

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 Option 1 Option 2

Option 2 is also a Standalone (SA) options and

Option 1 is a Standalone (SA)
represents a 5G NR access deployed in the
deployment options and represents
network and connected to the 5GC. This option is
the current 4G (LTE+EPC)
most suitable for a new entrant into the
deployments. Most of the operators
communication service provider (CSP) business.
around the world would now be
Or even for an existing operator, if it wants to
running their networks in this
offer 5G only service without 4G inter-working
mode of deployment option.
this is a good option to consider for full-fledged 5G
deployment.
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 Option 3 represents a Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment where both LTE and 5G NR radio access
networks are present but controlled by only the EPC core connected to the LTE access

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 Option 4 is also a Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment option, where both LTE and 5G NR radio access
technologies are deployed and controlled through only 5GC. In this deployment option the control
signaling from LTE RAN will be routed to the 5GC via the 5G NR.

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 Option 5 is a Standalone (SA) deployment
where we have a standalone LTE RAN
connected to 5GC. In this case, the LTE
must be an evolved LTE (eLTE) RAN that
understand the new 5GC signaling. This
option seems unlikely to be adopted by
any network operator, as most of the
benefits of 5G will come from migrating
to a 5G NR access network.
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Option 6 is also a Standalone (SA) deployment
and is relevant in scenarios where the radio
network has completely migrated to 5G NR, but it
retains the EPC as the core network. This is also a
very unlikely option to be adopted by the
operators as any operator who has an EPC will
most definitely also have an LTE radio
 Option 7 represents Non-Standalone deployments (NSA) where next generation core or the 5GC will be
used with a mixture of LTE and 5G NR radio. The core network signaling interface between the 5GC
and the radio network infrastructure will be the next gen signaling (i.e. NG-U, NG-C) but it will be
routed via the LTE RAN.

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 Network Slice: A logical network that provides specific network capabilities and network characteristics.

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 • Single Network Slice Selection Assistance information (S-NSSAI) : It identifies a Network Slice.
• S-NSSAI = Slice/Service type (SST) + Slice Differentiator (SD).
• Slice/Service type (SST) - Refers to the expected Network Slice behaviour in terms of features
and services.
• Slice Differentiator (SD) - An optional information that complements the Slice/Service type(s) to
allow further differentiation for selecting a Network Slice from the potentially multiple Network
Slices

• Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) - The NSSAI is a collection of up to 8 S-NSSAIs.

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 • gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU): a logical node divided
into UP and CP unites. Both are separated, UP can be
near DU to minimize UP latency and CP can be near
core.

• gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU): a logical node

hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the gNB, and its
operation is controlled by gNB-CU.

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 • OFDM Processing
• Modulation / de-modulation
• Error detection and correction
• MIMO Processing
• Segmentation and assembly
• Ciphering
• Power amplification
• Handover decision
• Admission Control
• Scheduler
• Measurement collection and evaluation “RSRP & RSRQ”

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

DN
UPF

The U-plane function (UPF) in the 5G core network provides functions specific to U-plane processing the
same as S-GW and P-GW.

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)
Section 6.2.3 of TS 23.501 -The User plane function (UPF) includes the following functionality.

• Packet routing & forwarding.

• Traffic usage reporting.
• QoS handling for user plane.
• Downlink packet buffering.
• Downlink data notification triggering.

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

SMF

UPF DN

The control plane functionality has been slightly re-organized in 5G core network
Instead of MME, the functionality has been divided between Session Management Function (SMF) and Access &
Mobility management Function (AMF).

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)
Section 6.2.2 of TS 23.501 -The Session Management function (SMF) includes the following functionality.
Some or all of the SMF functionalities may be supported in a single instance of a SMF:

• UPF Selection
• Session Management.
• UE IP address allocation.
• Charging data collection.
• Initiating paging procedure.

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

•AMF is a single node to manage all UE related functions.

•The EPC functionality of MME has been reallocated so that all access and mobility functionality is done by AMF

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)
Section 6.2.1 of TS 23.501 -The Access and Mobility Management function (AMF) includes the following
functionality. Some or all of the AMF functionalities may be supported in a single instance of an AMF:

• SMF Selection
• Registration management.
• Mobility Management.
• Provide transport for SMS messages between UE and SMSF.
• Store 5G-GUTI

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)
4G & 5G GUTI Mapping

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

NSSF “Network Slice Selection Function” supports the following functionality:

•Selecting the set of Network Slice instances serving the UE,
•Determining the AMF to be used to serve the UE, or, based on configuration, a list of candidate AMF(s), possibly by
querying the NRF.

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

Network Exposure Function (NEF)

Securely expose operators‘ 5G APIs “Application programing interface “ for application developers

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

NRF — NF Repository Function

Service registration as each function define its services to the NRF
Service discovery allow each network function to discover other functions and its services

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF UDM

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

Unified Data Management (UDM), is analogous to the Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)
Section 6.2.7 of TS 23.501 -The Unified Data Management (UDM) includes support for the following
functionality:

• Generation of 3GPP AKA “Authentication and Key Agreement”

• services restrictions.
• Store UE Identity.
• Service subscription

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF UDM AUSF

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

Doing both network and user authentication

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 5G Security Procedure between UE and Network

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 Different Authentication, Ciphering and Integrity Algorithms

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 Key Distribution

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 AV Generation

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 5G AKA Authentication Procedure

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF UDM AUSF PCF

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

The front-end section includes new specifications for a Policy Control Function (PCF) corresponding to the
Policy and Charging Rule control

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF UDM AUSF PCF 5G EIR

AMF SMF

DN
UPF

Stores PEI “ permanent Equipment Identifier ”

In 5G, the PEI is the means by which the network identifies the User Equipment (for devices that are capable
of accessing a 3GPP network, the PEI will be an IMEI)

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 5GS Service Based Architecture (SBA)

NSSF NEF NRF UDM AUSF PCF 5G EIR

AMF SMF SMSF

DN
UPF

SMSF: SMS Storage

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 • RRC_IDLE : Upon power ON, UE enters into
RRC_IDLE mode. UE can move to this mode
from either RRC_CONNECTED mode or
RRC_INACTIVE mode.

• RRC_INACTIVE: UE moves to this mode

from RRC_CONNECTED mode. It is
connected but inactive mode of UE. In this
mode UE maintains RRC connection and at the
same time minimizes signaling and power
consumption.

• RRC_CONNECTED: UE remains in
connection with the 5G-RAN/5GC in this mode.

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 RRC_IDLE MODE
Following actions are performed by UE in RRC IDLE mode.
• Selection of PLMN.
• listen to Broadcast messages .
• Cell re-selection.
• Listen to paging messages.

RRC_INACTIVE MODE
Following actions are performed by UE in RRC INACTIVE mode.
• listen to Broadcast messages.
• Cell re-selection.
• Listen to paging initiated by NG-RAN (RAN paging)

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 RRC_CONNECTED MODE
Following actions are performed by UE in RRC CONNECTED mode.
• 5GC to NG-RAN connection (both C/U-planes) is established for UE
• NG-RAN knows the cell which the UE belongs to
• Network controlled mobility including measurements

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